Storage cabinet assembly

ABSTRACT

A storage cabinet assembly comprises a housing including a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall, and a top wall that cooperate with one another to form a storage area, and a base assembly supporting the housing. The base assembly includes a top wall and a bottom wall that mate together to form an interior space, and a plurality of corner support brackets supporting the top wall from the bottom wall. The storage cabinet assembly further includes a drop-in drawer arrangement, and a drawer interlock assembly adapted to prevent multiple drawers from being simultaneously moved to an opened position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/335,269, filed Jan. 19, 2006, entitled STORAGE FILE ASSEMBLY, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage cabinet assembly, and inparticular to a storage cabinet assembly including an inventive baseassembly for supporting an associated housing, as well as a drop-indrawer arrangement, and an inventive drawer interlock assemblypreventing multiple drawers from being simultaneously moved to an openedposition.

Storage cabinet assemblies are used in a wide variety of office-typeapplications, and are provided in a multitude of configurations forstoring files, literature, clothing, and the like therein. These storagecabinet assemblies typically include a housing and a plurality ofdrawers or doors allowing access to an interior space therein. In someapplications, these cabinets are required to support a significant loadtherein, thereby requiring significant structural reinforcement to anysupporting base. Further, those storage cabinet assemblies that includea plurality of drawers often include complicated, relatively expensiveand relatively difficult to assemble supporting assemblies that allowthe drawers to be slidably removed from within the interior space of thehousing. Moreover, these cabinets typically include drawer interlockarrangements of relatively complicated design that are adapted toprevent multiple drawers from being simultaneously opened from withinthe cabinet. These and other current design characteristics result instorage assemblies that are complicated in design, costly tomanufacture, difficult to assemble and prone to failure during use.

The present inventive storage cabinet assembly provides a relatively lowcost, easy-to-assemble base assembly for supporting an associatedhousing thereon, that simultaneously provides adequate support forsignificantly heavy loads. The storage cabinet assembly further providesa drop-in drawer arrangement allowing quick assembly of the drawers withthe drawer supporting structure of the storage cabinet assembly byunskilled personnel without the use of specialized tools. Still further,the storage cabinet assembly includes a drawer interlock assembly thatprevents the misalignment of associated components within the interlockassembly while associated drawers are moved between opened and closedpositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a storage cabinet assembly thatcomprises a housing including a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall, and atop wall that cooperates with the sidewalls and the rear wall to form astorage area. The storage cabinet assembly further comprises a baseassembly supporting the housing that includes a top wall having aplurality of side edges that cooperate to form a plurality of cornerstherebetween, a bottom wall having a plurality of side edges thatcooperate to form a plurality of corners substantially co-aligned withthe corners of the top wall, wherein the bottom wall is spaced from thetop wall thereby defining a gap therebetween, and at least one cornersupport bracket located within the gap substantially proximate one ofthe corners of the top wall and the bottom wall and extending betweenthe top wall and the bottom wall. The corner support bracket extendsangularly with respect to the side edges of the top wall and the bottomwall cooperating to form the corner proximate the location of the cornersupport bracket.

In another aspect of the present invention, a storage cabinet assemblythat comprises a housing including a plurality of sidewalls, a rearwall, a bottom wall, and a top wall that cooperates with the sidewalls,the rear wall and the bottom wall to form a storage area. The storagecabinet assembly also comprises a pair of drawer slide assembliesoperably disposed within the storage area of the housing and eachincluding a first rail member operably coupled to one of the sidewallsof the housing, and a second rail member telescopingly coupled to thefirst rail member and having an inner surface and an irregularity spacedalong the length of the inner surface and extending inwardly therefrom.The storage cabinet assembly further comprises a drawer assemblyoperably disposed within the storage area of the housing and including abottom wall having a pair of notches, a rear wall and a pair ofsidewalls cooperating with the bottom wall and the rear wall of thedrawer assembly to form an interior space. Each of the sidewalls of thedrawer assembly include a downwardly-extending tab member disposedwithin a notch aligned with one of the notches of the bottom wall of thedrawer assembly, wherein the irregularity of each of the second railmembers engage a tab of the drawer assembly therein and is substantiallyvertically aligned with one of the notches of the bottom wall of thedrawer assembly.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for assemblinga storage cabinet assembly comprises providing a housing including apair of sidewalls, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall thatcooperate to form a storage area, and providing a pair of drawer slideassemblies each including a first rail member operably coupled to one ofthe sidewalls of the housing, and a second rail member telescopinglycoupled to the first rail member and including an inner surface and anirregularity spaced along a length of the inner surface and extendinginwardly therefrom. The method also includes providing a drawer andincluding a bottom wall having a pair of notches, a rear wall, and apair of sidewalls cooperating with the bottom wall and the rear wall ofthe drawer assembly to form an interior space, wherein each of thesidewalls includes a downwardly-extending tab member disposed within anotch aligned with one of the notches of the bottom wall of the drawer.The method further includes coupling the drawer with the drawer slideassemblies by aligning the notches of the bottom wall of the drawer withthe irregularities of the second rail members and moving the drawertowards the drawer slide assemblies such that the irregularities of thesecond rail members pass through the notches of the bottom wall of thedrawer and engage the tabs of the sidewalls of the drawer, therebyoperably supporting the drawer within the storage area.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide astorage cabinet assembly that comprises a housing including a pair ofsidewalls, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall that cooperateswith the sidewalls, the rear wall and the bottom wall to form a storagearea. The storage cabinet assembly also includes at least two drawersoperably disposed within the housing between an open position, whereinat least a portion of the drawer extends outwardly from within thestorage area, and a closed position, wherein the drawer is retractedinto the storage area, and wherein each drawer includes an actuatormember. The storage cabinet assembly further comprises a drawerinterlock for preventing the simultaneous opening of two drawersincluding a cam operably connected to the housing adjacent each drawer,wherein each cam includes at least a first cam arm extending therefrominto a path followed by the actuator member on the drawer when thedrawer is moved from the closed position to the open position, each cammoving from a first position to a second position when the drawer ismoved from the closed position to the open position, each actuatormember disengaging the cam as the cam reaches the second position,whereby the drawer is free to pass by the cam and moved to the openposition, and wherein each cam includes a first stop member extendingtherefrom. The drawer interlock also includes a stop member operablycoupled to the housing adjacent each drawer and fixed for rotation withrespect to the cam, wherein the first member abuts the second stopmember when the cam reaches the second position, thereby preventing overrotation of the cam and a first direction of rotation. The drawerinterlock further includes a flexible stop element of fixed lengthcoupled with the housing adjacent all of the cams, wherein the stopelement is movable between first and second positions when engaged byany one of the cam members without effecting movement of the other cammembers, and wherein each of the cams not in the second position thereofare blocked from movement from the first position to the second positionthereof when the stop element is in the second position thereof.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a drawer interlockassembly prevents simultaneous opening of multiple drawers of thestorage cabinet assembly from within a storage area defined by a housingof the storage cabinet assembly, wherein the drawer includes an actuatorand is operably disposed within the storage area between an openposition, wherein at least a portion of the drawer extends outwardlyfrom within the storage area, and a closed position, wherein the draweris retracted into the storage area. The drawer interlock assemblycomprises a cam connectable to the housing adjacent each of a multipleof drawers, wherein each cam includes at least a first cam arm adaptedto extend into a path followed by an actuator member on a drawer when adrawer is moved from a closed position to an open position, each cam isadapted to move from a first position to a second position when a draweris moved from a closed position to an open position, each cam is adaptedto disengage an actuator member as the cam reaches the second positionwhereby a drawer is free to pass by the cam and moved to an openposition, and wherein each cam includes a first stop member extendingtherefrom. The drawer interlock assembly also comprises a second stopmember connectable to a housing adjacent a drawer and fixed for rotationwith respect to the cam, wherein the first stop member abuts the secondstop member when the cam reaches the second position, thereby preventingover-rotation of the cam in a first direction of rotation. The drawerinterlock assembly further comprises a flexible stop element of fixedlength connectable with a housing adjacent all of the cams, wherein thestop element is movable between first and second positions when engagedby any one of the cam members without effecting movement of the othercam members, and wherein each of the cams not in the second positionthereof are blocked from movement from the first position to the secondposition thereof when the stop element is in the second positionthereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, a storage cabinet assemblycomprises a housing including a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall, a bottomwall, and a top wall that cooperates with the sidewalls, the rear walland the bottom wall to form a storage area, and a pair of uprightsfixedly secured to the sidewalls disposed across the housing from oneanother. The storage cabinet assembly also comprises a pair of drawerslide assemblies each including a first rail member operably coupled toone of the uprights, and a second rail member telescopingly coupled tothe first rail member, and at least two drawers operably coupled to thesecond rail member of each drawer slide assembly and movable between anopen position, wherein at least a portion of the drawer extendsoutwardly from within the storage area, and a closed position whereinthe drawer is retracted into the storage area, and wherein each drawerincludes an actuator member. The storage cabinet assembly furthercomprises a drawer interlock assembly for preventing the simultaneousopening of two drawers, wherein the drawer interlock includes a mountingmember operably coupled to the upright adjacent each drawer, a campivotally coupled to the mounting member adjacent each drawer, each cammoving from a first position to a second position when the drawer ismoved from the closed position to the open position, and from the firstposition to the second position when the drawer is moved from the openposition to the closed position, each cam is operably coupled with theother cams such that the movement of one cam from the first position tothe second position prevents movement of the other cams from the firstposition to the second position, and wherein at least a portion of themounting member is positioned between one of the slide assemblies andone of the uprights.

The present inventive storage cabinet assembly provides a relatively lowcost, easy-to-assemble base assembly for supporting an associatedhousing thereon, that simultaneously provides adequate support forsignificantly heavy loads. The storage cabinet assembly further providesa drop-in drawer arrangement allowing quick assembly of the drawers withthe drawer supporting structure of the storage cabinet assembly byunskilled personnel without the use of specialized tools. Still further,the storage cabinet assembly includes a drawer interlock assembly thatprevents the misalignment of associated components within the interlockassembly while associated drawers are moved between opened and closedpositions.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understoodand appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to thefollowing written specification, claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage cabinet assembly embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a base assembly;

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the base assembly taken alongthe line III-III, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the base assembly taken alongthe line IV-IV, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a corner support bracket;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a first alternative embodiment of the baseassembly;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the first alternativeembodiment of the base assembly, taken along the line VII-VII, FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a second alternative embodiment of the baseassembly;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the second alternativeembodiment of the base assembly, taken along the line IX-IX, FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 a bottom plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the baseassembly;

FIG. 11 a bottom plan view of a fourth alternative embodiment of thebase assembly;

FIG. 12 a side cross-sectional view of the storage cabinet assemblyincluding vertically-extending uprights taken along the line XII-XII,FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of the storage cabinet assemblytaken along the line XIII-XIII, FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a drawer assembly;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a tab and notch arrangementof the drawer assembly;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a bushing and a locking rodas received within the drawer assembly;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the pivot bushing;

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the pivot bushing;

FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thedrawer assembly;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a drawer slide assembly in an extendedposition;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a drawer slide assembly taken alongthe line XXI-XXI, FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a enlarged perspective view of a portion of a drawerinterlock assembly;

FIG. 23 is a side a view of a pair of drawer interlocks and a ribbonmember of the drawer interlock assembly;

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of one of the drawer interlocks;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the vertical uprights,one of the drawer slide assemblies and one of the drawer interlocks witha portion of a sidewall of the storage cabinet assembly cut away to showinternal components;

FIG. 26 is a top perspective view of a first hanger rod bracket;

FIG. 27 is a top perspective view of a second hanger rod bracket;

FIG. 28 is top perspective view of a third hanger bracket; and

FIG. 29 is a side cross-sectional view of the third hanger bracket takenalong the line XXIX-XXIX, FIG. 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

The reference numeral 10 (FIG. 1) generally designates a storage cabinetassembly embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example,the storage cabinet assembly 10 comprises a housing 12 that includes apair of sidewalls 14, 16, a rear wall 18, and a top wall 20 thatcooperate to form an interior storage area 22. The sidewalls 14, 16 andthe rear wall 18 are preferably secured to one another via a pluralityof spot welds, however, other forms of fastening may be employed The topwall 20 is secured to the sidewalls 14, 16 and the rear wall 18 by aplurality of mechanical fasteners (not shown), however, this may againbe secured to the other walls by other means as known in the art. Thestorage cabinet assembly 10 also includes a base assembly 24 (FIGS. 2-4)that supports the housing 12. The base assembly 24 includes an upper panmember 26 that mates with a lower pan member 28. The upper pan member 26includes a top wall 30, a front wall 32, a rear wall 34 and sidewalls36, 38. The front wall 32, the rear wall 34 and the sidewalls 36, 38 areintegrally formed with the top wall 30 and extend orthogonally downwardtherefrom. A lip 40 extends orthogonally inward from and is integrallyformed with the front wall 32. The front 32, the rear wall 34 and thesidewalls 36, 38 serve to define a plurality of edges of the top wall30, which in turn define a plurality of corners 41. The lower pan member28 includes a bottom wall 42, a front wall 44, a rear wall 46 and a pairof sidewalls 48, 50. The front wall 44, the rear wall 46 and thesidewalls 48, 50 cooperate with the bottom wall 42 to define a pluralityof corners 56. The lower pan member 28 further includes a plurality ofapertures 58 located proximate the corners 56 for receiving support legs60 therein.

The base assembly 24 further includes a plurality of corner supports orcorner support brackets 62 located substantially proximate the corners41, 56. Specifically, each corner support bracket 62 (FIG. 5) includes abase portion 64 and a pair of structural support legs 66 extendingorthogonally upward from the base portion 64. The base portion 64includes a pair of threaded apertures 68. Each support leg 66 includes aproximal end 70 inwardly offset from an associated body portion 72,thereby adding structural rigidity to each of the support legs 66.

In assembly, each corner support bracket 62 is placed in a correspondingcorner 56 of the lower pan member 28 such that the body portion 72 ofone of the support legs 66 of each corner support bracket 62 abutseither the front wall 44 or the rear wall 46 of the lower pan member 28,while the remaining support legs 66 of each corner support bracket 62abuts one of the sidewalls 48, 50, thereby properly locating each cornersupport bracket 62 with respect to the lower pan member 28. Each cornersupport bracket 62 is secured to the lower pan member 28 by mechanicalfasteners such as screws (not shown) that are received within apertureslocated in the bottom wall 42 of the lower pan member 28 and that arethreadably received within the threaded apertures 68 of the base portion64 of each of the corner support brackets 62. Alternatively, the cornersupport brackets 62 may be weldably secured to the lower pan 28. Theupper pan member 26 and the lower pan member 28 are then mated togethersuch that the front wall 32, the rear wall 34 and the sidewalls 36, 38of the upper pan 26 abut the front wall 44, the rear wall 46 and thesidewalls 48, 50 of the lower pan member 28, respectively. The upper panmember 26 and the lower pan member 28 are then secured to one another bya plurality of spot welds securing the corresponding walls to oneanother, thereby creating the unitary base assembly 24, and defining agap or space 74 between the top wall 30 of the upper pan member 26 andthe bottom wall 42 of the lower pan member 28. The housing 12 is thensecured to the base assembly 24 by placing the base assembly 24 withinthe housing 12 such that the sidewalls 14, 16 and the rear wall 18 ofthe housing 12 overlap the sidewalls 36, 38 and the rear wall 34 of theupper pan member 26, which are then secured to one another by aplurality of spot welds.

The reference numeral 24 a (FIGS. 6 and 7) generally designates anotherembodiment of the base assembly. Since the base assembly 24 a is similarto the previously-described base assembly 24, similar parts appearing inFIGS. 2-4 and FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, are represented by the same,corresponding reference numeral except for the suffix “a” in thenumerals of the latter. The base assembly 24 a is similar to the baseassembly 24 with the main exception including an elongated aperture 76located within the bottom wall 42 a of the lower pan member 28 a, andthe inclusion of a hat-shaped, elongated structural support memberspanning the aperture 76. The structural support member 78 includes atop wall 80, a pair of sidewalls 82 extending orthogonally from the topwall 80, and a pair of support portions 84 extending orthogonallyoutward from the sidewalls 82. The top wall 80 and the sidewalls 82 ofthe structural support member 78 cooperate to define an elongated space86 therebetween. In assembly, the structural support member 78 ispositioned such that the top wall 80 is secured to the top wall 30 ofthe upper pan member 26, while the support portions 84 are secured tothe bottom wall 42 of the lower pan member 28. An elongated weight 88 islocated and secured within the space 86 as defined within the structuralsupport member 78. The weight member 88 counterbalances certain forcesexerted on the overall storage cabinet assembly 10, such as when adrawer assembly is extended from within the housing 12, as discussedbelow. A plate 89 is affixed to the base assembly 24 a across the space86.

The reference numeral 24 b (FIGS. 8 and 9) generally designates yetanother embodiment of the base assembly. Since the base assembly 24 b issimilar to the previously-described base assembly 24, similar partspairing in FIGS. 2-4 and FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, are represented bythe same, corresponding reference numeral, except for the suffix “b” inthe numerals of the latter. The base assembly 24 b includes an upper panmember 26 b similarly constructed to that of the upper pan member 26.Both the front wall 32 b and the rear wall 34 b of the upper pan member26 b includes an inwardly-extending lip 96. The lower pan member 28 b isconstructed of two separate pieces, each including a bottom wall 42 b. Afront wall 44 b extends orthogonally upward from one of the bottom walls42 b, while a rear wall 46 b extends orthogonally upward from the otherof the bottom walls 42 b. Both the front wall 44 b and the rear wall 46include an outwardly-extending support lip 90. A support portion 92extends angularly inward from each of the bottom walls 42 b, while asupport lip 94 extends inwardly from each of the support portions 92.

In assembly, each section forming the lower pan member 28 b is situatedwith respect to the upper pan member 26 b such that each support lip 94abuts the top wall 30 b of the upper pan member 26 b, the bottom walls42 b of the lower pan member 28 b abuts the lips 96 of the lower panmember 26 b and the front wall 44 b and rear wall 46 b of the lower panmember 28 b are inwardly offset from the front wall 32 b and rear wall34 b of the upper pan member 26 b, respectively, thereby creating a gap98 therebetween. While the support lips 94 are secured to the top wall30 b, and the lips 40 b of the upper pan member 26 b are secured to thebottom wall 42 b of the lower pan member 28 b each by a plurality ofspot welds, it is noted that the support lips 90 are not fixedly securedto the top wall 30 b of the upper pan member 26. Preferably, a slightspace or gap 100 is formed between each lip 90 and the top wall 30 b ofthe upper pan member 26 b in the absence of an external force beingexerted on the base assembly 24 b. A plate member 102 is weldablysecured to the bottom of the bottom wall 42 b of the lower pan member 28b, thereby eliminating rack within the overall storage cabinet assembly10. In operation, the free-floating nature of the front wall 44 b andrear wall 46 b of the lower pan member 28 b with respect to the upperpan member 26 b in conjunction with the gaps or spaces 98 a, allowdeformity of the front wall 44 b and the rear wall 46 b of the lower panmember 28 b prior to deformity of the exposed front wall 32 b and rearwall 34 b of the upper pan member 26 b when an extreme load ordownwardly-directed force F is exerted on the top wall 30 b of the upperpan member 26 b, thereby preserving the aesthetic appeal of the frontwall 32 b and the rear wall 34 b.

Alternatively, the plate member 102 is replaced by a pair offront-to-back extending reinforcement plates 104 (FIG. 10). In yetanother alternative embodiment, the plate member 102 and thereinforcement plates 104 are replaced by an X-shaped reinforcementmember 106 (FIG. 11). The reinforcement member 28 includeslongitudinally-extending portions 108, front-to-back extending portions110 that cooperate with the longitudinally-extending portions to form arectangular-shape, and an X-shaped inner web 112.

The storage cabinet assembly 10 (FIG. 12) further includes a pair offorward uprights and a pair of rearward uprights spaced rearwardly fromthe forward uprights 114, one of each secured to an inner surface of thesidewalls 14, 16 of the housing 12. Each of the forward uprights 114(FIG. 13) and the rearward uprights 116 have a hat-shapedcross-sectional configuration and include an inner surface 118, a pairof side surfaces 120 extending orthogonally from the inner surface 118,and a pair of abutment portions 122 extending orthogonally from the sidesurfaces 120. The inner surface 118 of each of the forward uprights 114and the rearward uprights 116 include a plurality ofhorizontally-extending vertically-spaced slots 124 that receive drawersupport assemblies therein, as described below. The forward uprights 114and the rearward uprights 116 extend between the top wall 20 of thehousing 12 downwardly to and abutting the top wall 30 of the baseassembly 24. The forward uprights 114 and the rearward uprights 116 aresecured to an inner surface of the sidewalls 14, 16 by a plurality ofspot welds.

The storage cabinet assembly 10 further includes a plurality of drawerassemblies 126 (FIG. 1) located within the storage area 22 of thehousing 12 in a vertically-aligned manner. Each drawer assembly 126 isoperable between an opened position A, wherein at least a portion of thedrawer assembly 126 extends outwardly from within the storage area 22,and a closed position B, wherein the drawer assembly 126 is retractedinto the storage area 22. Each drawer assembly 126 (FIG. 14) includes abottom wall 128, a rear wall 130, a pair of sidewalls 132 and a faceplate assembly 133 that cooperate to form an interior space 134. Eachsidewall 132 includes an integrally-formed, inwardly-extending actuatormember 136 for interaction with a drawer interlocking assembly, asdescribed below. Each sidewall 132 (FIG. 15) also includes a pair ofdownwardly-extending tabs 138 disposed within and extending intoapertures 140. The bottom wall 128 includes two pairs of apertures 142co-aligned with the apertures 140, thereby allowing a drop-in typeassembly of the drawer assemblies 126 within the housing 12, asdescribed below.

Each drawer assembly 126 further includes a lock assembly 144 thatincludes a key-receiving lock tumbler 146 operably coupled with a cammember 148 having a cam 149 that acts on a locking rod 150 which inturns actuate a drawer stop assembly 152 between a locked and unlockedposition in a manner as is known in the art. In the illustrated example,the elongated locking rod 150 includes a body portion 154, end portions156 each including a first portion 158 extending orthogonally from thebody portion 154 and a second portion 160 extending orthogonally fromthe associated first portion 158, and a C-shaped actuator portion 162spaced along the length of the body portion 154.

In assembly, the rod 150 is pivotally coupled with the sidewalls 132 ofthe associated drawer assembly 126 by placing pivot bushings 164 (FIG.16) about the body portion 154 of the locking rod 150 proximate the endportions 156 thereof and subsequently positioning the pivot bushings 164into forwardly-facing notches 166 located within the sidewalls 132 ofthe drawer assemblies 126. As illustrated, each pivot bushing 164 (FIGS.17 and 18) includes a circularly-shaped planar body portion 170 having askirt portion 172 extending circumferentially thereabout andorthogonally upward therefrom and a tubularly-shaped inwardly-extendingcollar 174 defining a bearing aperture 175. Each pivot bushing 164further includes a longitudinally-extending first slot 176 that dividesthe body portion 170, the skirt portion 172 and the collar 174. Eachpivot bushing 164 further includes a second slot 178 dividing the bodyportion 170 and the skirt portion 172 and located across the pivotbushing 164 opposite the first slot 176. Each pivot bushing 164 iscomprised of a flexibly-resilient material, such as a plastic. Inassembly, each pivot bushing 164 is assembled with the locking rod 150by moving the locking rod 150 through the first slot 176 and into thebearing aperture 175, thereby forcing the pivot bushing 164 to flexabout the locking rod 150. It is noted that the second slot 178 acts asa relief so as to allow proper bending and distortion of the associatedpivot bushing 164 as it is assembled with the locking rod 150 andprevents catastrophic distortion of the same. The locking rod 150 andthe associated pivot bushings 164 are then pivotally coupled with thesidewalls 132 of the drawer assembly 126 by placing the pivot bushings164 into the notches 166 of the sidewalls 132.

In operation, the lock tumbler 146 rotatably actuates the cam member 148such that the cam 149 impinges on the actuator portion 162 of thelocking rod 150, thereby rotating the locking rod 150 in a firstdirection of rotation corresponding to and represented by directionalarrow 180. The force as exerted by the cam 149 onto the locking rod 150overcomes a spring-biasing force exerted on the locking rod 150 by acoil-spring 182. The coil spring 182 includes a first end coupled withthe actuator portion 162 of the locking rod 150 and a second endreceived within an aperture 184 of the header bar 186. The header bar186 includes ends 188 received within slots 190 located within thesidewalls 132 of the drawer assembly 126. The force as exerted on thelocking rod 150 by the coil spring 182 forces the locking rod 150 in adirection as indicated and represented by directional arrow 192 andopposite to direction 180.

Alternatively, a coil spring 194 (FIG. 19) is used in place of the coilspring 182. The coil spring 194 includes a coiled body portion 196, afirst leg 198 having a hook-shaped distal end 199, and a second leg 200having an orthogonally-extending abutment portion 202. In assembly, thecoiled body portion 196 of the coil spring 194 is positioned about thebody portion 154 of the locking rod 150 such that the hook-shaped distalend 199 of the first leg 198 receives the actuator portion 162 of thelocking rod 150 therein, and the abutment portion 202 of the second leg200 abuts a portion of the face plate assembly 133, thereby biasing thelocking rod 150 in the direction 192.

Each drawer assembly 126 is slidably supported within the storage area22 of the housing 12 between the open position A and the closed positionB by a pair of drawer slide assemblies 204 (FIG. 14). Each drawer slideassembly 204 is adjustable between a retracted position C (FIG. 13) andan extended position D (FIG. 20), in a manner as is known in the art. Inthe illustrated example, each drawer slide assembly 204 includes a firstrail member 206, a second rail member 208 telescopingly coupled with thefirst rail member 206 and a third rail member 210 telescopingly coupledwith the second rail member 208. The third rail member 210 (FIG. 21) istelescopingly coupled to the second rail member 208, and the second railmember 208 is telescopingly coupled to the first rail member 206 by aplurality of bearings in a manner as is known in the art. Although theillustrated example includes three rail members 206, 208, 210, otheroperable pluralities of rail members may be utilized. The first railmember 206 includes a plurality of outwardly-extending fasteners 212that are received within the slots 124 of the forward uprights 114 andthe rearward uprights 116, thereby coupling the associated drawer slideassembly 204 with the housing 12 in a manner as is known in the art. Thethird rail member 210 includes irregularities located along the lengththereof, such a protrusion in the form of a pair of spaced-apart,punch-formed loop members 214 extend inwardly from an inner surface 216of the third rail member 210. Each loop member 214 defines a gap 218therein.

The illustrated arrangement allows easy drop-in assembly of each drawerassembly 126 with the associated drawer slide assemblies 204.Specifically, subsequent to assembly of the drawer slide assemblies 204with the forward uprights 114 and rearward uprights 116 of the housing12, the associated drawer assembly 126 is positioned with respect to thedrawer slide assemblies 204 such that the tabs 138 of the sidewalls 132of the drawer assembly 126 are vertically aligned with the gaps 218formed by the loop members 214. The drawer assembly 126 is then moveddownwardly such that the loop members 214 pass through the apertures ornotches 142 located within the bottom wall 128 of the drawer assembly126 and are received within the apertures or notches 140 of thesidewalls 132 until the tabs 138 are received into the gaps 218 of thedrawer slide assemblies 204, thereby coupling the drawer assembly 126with the drawer slide assemblies 204.

The storage cabinet assembly 10 further includes a drawer interlockassembly 220 (FIG. 22) that includes a plurality of drawer interlocks222 and flexible, flat ribbon 224 of a given length operably couplingeach of the drawer interlocks 222 together. Each of the drawerinterlocks 222 (FIGS. 23 and 24) includes an interlock backer ormounting member coupled with one of the forward uprights 114, and a cammember 228 pivotally coupled with the mounting member 226. Each mountingmember 226 includes a body portion 230, a centrally-located pivotreceiver 232, a first stop member 234 located at a first radial positionabout the pivot receiver 232, a flexible second stop member 236 locatedat a second radial position about the pivot receiver 232, and aretention tab or member 237. The mounting member further includes anarcuately-shaped shield wall 238 spanning an arcuate distance about thepivot receiver 232, an upwardly-opening upper slot 240, and adownwardly-opening lower slot 242. An arcuately-shaped guide arm 244partially encompasses the upper slot 240, so as to retain the ribbonmember 224 within the upper slot 240, as described below. The mountingmember 226 further includes a pair of downwardly-exposed,forwardly-extending hooks 246 for supporting the associated drawerinterlock 222 within the housing 12, as described below.

The cam member 228 includes an arcuately-shaped body portion 248 havinga plurality of apertures 259, a pivot aperture 250, a first cam arm 252extending radially outward from the pivot aperture 250, a second cam arm254 extending radially outward from the pivot aperture 250, and a cam256 extending radially outward from the pivot aperture 250. The cam 256includes a first stop surface 258 and a second stop surface 260.

In assembly, the cam member 228 is pivotally coupled with the associatedmounting member 226 by inserting the pivot receiver 232 of mountingmember 226 into the pivot aperture 250 of the cam member 228. Eachdrawer interlock 222 (FIG. 25) is coupled with the associated forwardupright 114 by inserting each of the hooks 46 of each mounting member226 into apertures 262 located within and spaced longitudinally alongthe rearwardly-facing side surface 120 of one of the forward uprights114, and the ribbon member 224 is coupled through the plurality ofdrawer interlocks 222. An associated drawer slide assembly 204 is thenassembled with the uprights 114, 116 by inserting the fasteners 212thereof into the slots 124 of the uprights 114, 116, thereby sandwichingor trapping a portion of the mounting member 226 between the sidewall 16of the housing 12 and the drawer slide assembly 204 and preventingremoval of the drawer interlock 222. Each drawer assembly 126 is thenassembled with the drawer slide assemblies 204. Specifically, eachdrawer assembly 126 is assembled with an associated pair of drawer slideassemblies 204 when the assemblies are in the extended position D. Asthe drawer assembly 126 is moved to the closed position B, the actuatormember 136 contacts the cam member 228 moving the cam member 228 in aclockwise direction of rotation from the position F to a positionslightly past the position F, thereby allowing the drawbar assembly 126to fully close and returning the cam member 228 to the position E.

The ribbon member 224 includes ends 263 that are securely coupled to theforward upright 114. Alternatively, an extension member 265 is coupledto the end 263 of the ribbon member 224, thereby extending the overalluseful length of the ribbon member 224 and allowing the ribbon member224 to be utilized within housings of differing height. The ribbonmember 224 is operably received into each of the drawer interlocks 222.Specifically, the ribbon member 224 is received into both the upperslots 240 and the lower slots 242, and is received about the collarportion 249. In operation, the ribbon member 224 is provided a slightslack when each of the drawer assemblies 126 are in the closed positionB. Any slack available in the ribbon member 224 is taken up or removedby the opening of a single drawer assembly 126 thereby preventing anyother drawer assembly 126 from being simultaneously opened.Specifically, the first cam arm 252 extends into a path as followed bythe actuator member 136 of the drawer assembly 126 when the drawerassembly is moved from the closed position A to the closed position B,causing the cam member 228 to rotate from a first position E to a secondposition F, and the cam 256 of the cam member 228 to abut the ribbonmember 224, thereby removing any slack in the same. The cam member 228continues to rotate until the first cam arm 252 is positioned so as toallow the actuator member 136 to disengage the same, thereby allowingthe drawer assembly 126 to be moved to the open position A. The cammember 228 is prevented from over rotating in a direction 264 byabutment of the second stop surface 260 of the cam 256 with the firststop member 234 of the mounting member 226. Misalignment of the cammember 256 while the drawer assembly 126 is in the open position A isprevented by engagement of the retention member 237 into one of theapertures 259 of the cam member 228. The cam member 228 is moved fromthe second position F to the first position E when the drawer assembly126 is moved from the open position A to the closed position B and theactuator member 136 abuts the second cam arm 224, thereby overcoming theforce exerted by the cam member 228 by the retention member 237 androtating the cam member 228 in a second direction 266. The cam member isprevented from over rotating in the second direction 266 by abutment ofthe first stop surface 262 of the cam 256 with the second stop member236. It should be noted that the guide arm 244 assists in maintainingthe ribbon member 224 within the upper slot 240, while the shield wall238 of the mounting member 226 prevents the ribbon member 224 from beingmisaligned from the cam member 228.

A storage cabinet and assembly 10 further includes a garment rod bracketassembly 268 (FIGS. 26-29) utilized within the storage area 22 of thehousing 12. Specifically, in an arrangement where several of the drawersof the storage cabinet assembly 10 are removed and replaced with doors(not shown), the garment rod bracket assembly 268 is provided so as toallow hanging of garments within the storage area 22. The bracketassembly 268 comprises three hanger brackets each secured to a bottomsurface of the top wall 20 of the housing 12, and includes a firsthanger bracket 270, a second hanger bracket 272, a third hanger bracket274, and a hanger rod (not shown) supported by the brackets 270, 272,274.

The first hanger bracket 270 includes a planar support portion 276having a plurality of mechanical fastener-receiving apertures 278extending therethrough, and a body portion 280 extending orthogonallydownward from the support portion 276. An integrally-formed U-shapedhook portion 282 extends upwardly from a lower end of the body portion280 and is formed by a pair of flexibly-resilient, upwardly-extendinglegs 284. The legs cooperate to form an U-shaped notch 286 and eachinclude an inwardly-extending detent 288 located proximate a distal endthereof.

The second or intermediate hanger bracket 272 includes a support portion290 having a mechanical fastener-receiving aperture 292 extendingtherethrough, and an integrally-formed body portion 294 extendingorthogonally downward from the support portion 290. A lower end of thebody portion 290 includes an oval-shaped aperture 296 extendingtherethrough.

The third hanger bracket 274 includes a support portion 298 having apair of mechanical fastener-receiving apertures extending therethrough,and a body portion 302 extending orthogonally downward from the supportportion 298 and having an end wall 304 and a U-shaped rim portion 306extending about the periphery of the wall 304. The body portion 302 isintegrally formed with the support portion 298. The end wall includes aninwardly-facing detent 308 located proximate an end of the end wall 304.

In assembly, the hanger rod is positioned with the hanger brackets 270,272, 274 such that an end of the hanger rod is received within the rimportion 306 of the third hanger bracket 274, and the hanger rod extendsthrough the aperture 296 of the second hanger bracket 272. It is notedthat the elongated aperture 296 allows slight vertical adjustment of thehanger rod once positioned therein. An opposite end of the hanger rod isthen lowered into snapping engagement within the notch 286 of the firsthanger bracket 270 while the first end of the hanger rod is snappinglyengaged within the rim portion 306 of the third hanger bracket 274, withthe detents 288, 308 engaging the hanger rod.

The present inventive storage cabinet assembly provides a relatively lowcost, easy-to-assemble base assembly for supporting an associatedhousing thereon, that simultaneously provides adequate support forsignificantly heavy loads. The storage cabinet assembly further providesa drop-in drawer arrangement allowing quick assembly of the drawers withthe drawer supporting structure of the storage cabinet assembly byunskilled personnel without the use of specialized tools. Still further,the storage cabinet assembly includes a drawer interlock assembly thatprevents the misalignment of associated components within the interlockassembly while associated drawers are moved between opened and closedpositions.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that modifications may be made to the inventionwithout departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modificationsare to be considered as included in the following claims, unless theseclaims by their language expressly state otherwise.

1. A storage cabinet assembly, comprising: a housing, comprising: a pairof sidewalls; a rear wall; a bottom wall; and a top wall that cooperateswith the sidewalls, the rear wall and the bottom wall to form a storagearea; a pair of drawer slide assemblies operably disposed with thestorage area of the housing, each drawer slide assembly comprising: afirst rail member operably coupled to one of the sidewalls of thehousing; and a second rail member telescopingly coupled to the firstrail member and including an inner surface and a protrusion spaced alonga length of the inner surface and extending inwardly therefrom; and adrawer assembly operably disposed within the storage area of thehousing, the drawer assembly comprising; a bottom wall including a pairof notches; a rear wall; and a pair of sidewalls cooperating with thebottom wall and the rear wall of the drawer assembly to form an interiorspace, each of the sidewalls of the drawer assembly include adownwardly-extending tab member disposed within a notch aligned with oneof the notches of the bottom wall of the drawer assembly, the protrusionof each of the second rail members engaging a tab of the drawer assemblyand substantially vertically aligned with one of the notches of thebottom wall of the drawer assembly.
 2. The storage cabinet assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the protrusion of each of the second rail memberscomprises a loop.
 3. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 2, whereineach of the loops is integrally formed with the inner surface of thesecond rail member.
 4. The storage cabinet assembly of claim 1, whereinthe protrusion of each of the second rail members is punched from theinner surface of the second rail member.
 5. The storage cabinet assemblyof claim 1, further including: a pair of uprights wherein each uprightis fixedly secured to an inner surface of one of the sidewalls, eachupright including a plurality of apertures spaced along a lengththereof, and wherein the first rail member of each of the drawer slideassemblies includes a pair of outwardly extending hanger tabs engagingthe apertures of the uprights, thereby supporting the drawer slideassemblies from the uprights.
 6. A method for assembling a storagecabinet assembly, comprising: providing a housing including a pair ofsidewalls, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall that cooperate toform a storage area; providing a pair of drawer slide assemblies eachincluding a first rail member operably coupled to one of the sidewallsof the housing, and a second rail member telescopingly coupled to thefirst rail member and including an inner surface and a protrusion spacedalong a length of the inner surface and extending inwardly therefrom;providing a drawer including a bottom wall having a pair of notches, arear wall, and a pair of sidewalls cooperating with the bottom wall andthe rear wall of the drawer assembly to form an interior space, each ofthe sidewalls including a downwardly-extending tab member disposedwithin a notch aligned with one of the notches of the bottom wall of thedrawer; and coupling the drawer with the drawer slide assemblies byaligning the notches of the bottom wall of the drawer with theprotrusions of the second rail members and moving the drawer towards thedrawer slide assemblies such that the protrusions of the second railmembers pass through the notches of the bottom wall of the drawer andengage the tabs of the sidewalls of the drawer, thereby operablysupporting the drawer within the storage area.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the protrusion of each of the second rail members comprises aloop, and wherein the step of coupling the drawer assembly with thedrawer slide assemblies includes aligning the notches of the bottom wallof the drawer assembly with the loops of the second rail members andmoving the drawer assembly towards the drawer slide assemblies such thatthe loops of each of the second rail members passes through the notchesof the bottom wall of the drawer assembly and the tabs of the sidewallsof the drawer assembly are received within the loops, thereby operablysupporting the drawer assembly within the storage area.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the protrusion of each of the second rail members isformed by deforming the inner surface of the second rail member.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further including: fixedly securing a pair ofuprights to an inner surface of each of the sidewalls, each uprightincluding a plurality of apertures spaced along a length thereof;providing the first rail member of each of the drawer slide assemblieswith a pair of outwardly- extending hanger tabs; and coupling the drawerslide assemblies with the uprights by engaging the hanger tabs of thefirst rail members into the apertures of the uprights, therebysupporting the drawer slide assemblies from the uprights.